MSI has just announced its latest Socket 775 motherboard supporting all new 45nm Intel processors called the P7N2 Diamond.

It is based on Nvidia's high-end NForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset and uses a non-reference design which is a fresh change from all the other reference based boards from companies like XFX, EVGA and BFG.

It supports an official FSB of 1600MHz quad-pumped and DDR3 memory up to 2000MHz with EPP. Its four PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots are capable of supporting up to three-way SLI using Nvidia's latest graphics cards such as the upcoming 9800 GTX.

As far as what MSI has done to the P7N2 Diamond, it sees Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio via an add-on card. MSI's crazy rollercoaster Circu-Pipe heat pipe design has been slightly modified for better cooling performance, too. As you would expect it features more expensive Japanese solid capacitors and the PWM capacitors on this motherboard are based on "Hi-c CAP" which has better ripple current and dissipation factor characteristics.

It is an Intel Desktop Board brand motherboard which is quite different to anything else we have seen in the past. It is a very early sample so the design and layout will probably change throughout the year until the first Nehalem processors are due to launch sometime in the Q4 timeframe.

(Click on the thumbnail to enlarge)

The memory slots for one are right at the top of the board above the new LGA1366 socket. There are three blue colored 1600MHz DDR3 slots which are probably designed to easier identify support for triple channel memory. There are two PCI Express x16 slots for dual graphics along with a single x4 slot and two x1 slots. Legacy support for PCI is still included with a single slot - when will it ever die?

Onboard there appears to be six SATA II ports but there is probably also two (or more) eSATA ports on the I/O panel which we cannot see - they are probably powered by the ICHR10 Southbridge, we would guess.

Intel is not due to officially release their P45 chipset until sometime in April but that hasn't stopped information being leaked early.

Pictures and details of Foxconn's upcoming "ELA" P45 motherboard have appeared on the Internet. This particular board will included three PCI-E x16 slots but it is unclear whether or not they will all run electronically at x16 or not - we would assume not since it is a cheaper chipset.

Based on the Intel ICH10R southbridge there are a total of eight SATAII ports with six being on the board and two routed as eSATA.

It has official support for all Intel 45nm processors up to 1333MHz FSB, at least officially - we know this board and others should at least do 400MHz FSB OC.

Timed for release as CeBIT closes in, BIOSTAR has issued an announcement today supporting the release of their latest Micro-ATX motherboard; the T-Series TA780G M2+.

Based on AMD's 780G / SB700 chipset, this board carries support for AMD's Phenom series of CPUs as well as the Athlon X2/64/FX/Sempron lineup. ATI Hybrid Technology is also one of the motherboard's major highlights.

BIOSTAR Microtech Int'l Corp., a professional manufacturer of motherboards has launched in China TA780G M2+, which is an integrated graphics motherboard with amazing performance. T-Series TA780G M2+ has created unique extra value for both end-users who don't want to buy a discrete graphics card and those who need a discrete graphics card. TA780G M2+ offers a powerful graphics performance, which is about 70% better than current generation models available on the market. On the other hand, TA780G M2+ can also increase the performance of ATI graphics cards by ATI Hybrid Technology.

A recent event held in Taiwan which ASUS attended allowed an onlooker of the Xfastest forum to take a few shots of ASUS' upcoming P5N64 WS Pro motherboard, this based on NVIDIA's latest flagship desktop chipset; the 790i.

The board demo'd at the event is a workstation oriented version, so there will inevitably be a few subtle changes to the mainstream consumer variants I would imagine.

If you've been holding out for a feature-rich 780i motherboard to hit the market look no further; ASUS has just expanded upon their Republic of Gamers lineup with a new addition based on this chipset which they call the Striker II Formula.

The full press release on the board can be located over at ASUS' website.

FREMONT, CA (January 21, 2008) - ASUS®, worldwide leader in component and notebook design and manufacturing, today released the Striker II Formula motherboard. This cutting-edge motherboard is the latest in ASUS´ Republic of Gamers line and takes full advantage of the NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI MCP (Media Communications Processor). To deliver the most immersive PC gaming experience, the new Striker II Formula motherboard provides support for 3-way SLI technology, resulting in amazingly fast game-play.

Details of MSI's new X48 based motherboards have surfaced on the web. There are two versions known to be released thus far; the X48 Platinum which is DDR3 only and also an X48C Platinum with support for both DDR3 and 2. Both motherboards feature MSI's exclusive Dual-Channel PWM power management and "Circu-Pipe" cooling solution.

You can read more about their feature-sets along with a couple of images over at VR-Zone.

Micro-Star International (MSI) today launched its latest X48 Series motherboards based on Intel X48 Express chipset. Coming in two versions: X48 Platinum DDR3 only and X48C Platinum DDR3 & DDR2 combo, these new motherboards feature "Dual-Channel PWM", enhanced fanless cooling design "Circu-Pipe" and numerous exclusive features such as Quad graphics slots, MSI SkyTel VoIP, and all Made-in-Japan solid capacitors. Water-cooling versions of the boards are also set to come in the future.

With NVIDIA's official unveiling of the 780i chipset a short while ago, a slew of manufacturers are coming out with boards based on this new flagship nForce chipset for Intel users. Below are three 780i boards we've spotted so far.